Get unlimited digital access $14.99 A MONTH

From Kenya to Europe to St. Paul, Minnesota, OneWorld Memorials is importing a variety of artisan goods from the African nation, a partnership that began in August.

St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) October 30, 2015

OneWorld Memorials is a Minnesota eCommerce company selling urns and memorial keepsakes, and this November, its founder and President Ira Woods is pleased to officially announce a new partnership with one of Africa's oldest fair trade groups.

Woods first encountered the Undugu Society of Kenya at an artisan/home crafts show in Europe. During a follow up meeting, Woods and Undugu Society of Kenya representatives began collaborating on the design of a series of hand-carved and painted cremation urns for ashes made out of African soapstone. Natural deviations in the stone ensure that each urn is unique, and the partnership will help support both Undugu artisans and the workers who provide source materials.

“This partnership just takes us a little further into our overall mission to be able to bring commerce into developing countries that are looking for ways to provide work in local communities -- our name, OneWorld Memorials, came out of that inspiration," said Woods. "Although we sell traditional urns, the direction we want to move in is the kinds of things we’re doing with great organizations like Undugu Society of Kenya and Pro Pueblo.”

Previously this year, OneWorld Memorials announced a similar partnership with artisans from Pro Pueblo, which works with crafts makers in South America. At the time, Woods said he hoped to develop similar partnerships with artisans around the world, and this latest collaboration brings the memorial keepsakes company one step closer to that goal.

Woods described the new soapstone cremation urns as "truly beautiful, contemporary designs, with an African influence." There are five varieties of the urn available through the OneWorld Memorials online store, selling for $30 to $110. In addition to large soapstone urns, customers can also purchase a soapstone keepsake box, as well as soapstone infant cremation urns.

Woods hopes that mourners looking for a unique cremation urn for loved ones will appreciate the care and passion that went into designing these hand-made items. For those seeking a green burial, the soapstone urns are made from sustainable products and offer an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to $5,000 steel caskets.

The Undugu Society of Kenya began in 1973 in Tabaka, Kenya, with a mission of financially empowering workers and children living in poverty. By exporting their crafts around the world, the society supports workers at sandstone quarries, the laborers who transport the raw materials, artisan carvers, and women who provide sandpapering. The fair trade group matches money saved by the artisans, while also helping parents sent their children to school.

The new soapstone crafts are now available on the OneWorld Memorials website.